arriere pensee.

"No, he has lost a good bit of money lately--invested it in some rotten
concern or other. Jacobi says he can't afford to have a wife."

"I should have thought he would have said the same of you," rather
pointedly. "He must be aware that you have only an allowance from your
sisters?" And at this plain speaking Cedric reddened again with
annoyance.

"I suppose I shall have a profession some day," he returned with a
lordly air; "and as my sisters are rich, and Dinah is certainly not
likely to marry, I think I may safely count on a pretty handsome
allowance."

"If you marry in accordance with your sister's wish, I should think you
are right," returned Malcolm coolly. "My dear fellow, would it not have
been as well to find this out before you pledged yourself to the lady?"

"There was no necessity for that," replied Cedric; "Jacobi seemed quite
satisfied with my prospects. He is not a bit grasping. He told me that
he wished his sister to marry a gentleman; that he had been to the Wood
House and seen my sisters, and he was quite willing to give his
sanction to the engagement; and as Leah and I understood each other
perfectly, I had no difficulty with her. Why don't you congratulate me,
Herrick," exclaimed the lad excitedly, "instead of badgering and
cross-examining me like an Old Bailey witness? I am the happiest fellow
in existence! Leah's a darling--there is not such a woman in the world!"

"Is there not?" returned Malcolm quietly. His face looked a little
haggard as he spoke, and there was a wistful, pining look in his eyes.
Oh, why was the boy so like Elizabeth? There was no real similarity--it
was only a trick of expression, a turn of the head, a sudden impulsive
movement that recalled her. "May I ask one more question, old fellow?
Is it by your own or Mr. Jacobi's wish that the engagement is kept a
secret?" But Cedric refused to answer this. He said with a good deal of
dignity that there were limits to everything. He had a great respect
for Herrick, and always looked upon him as his best friend, but he must
excuse him answering this.

"Well--well, we will talk of that again," returned Malcolm; but in his
own mind he was certain that Saul Jacobi had his own reasons for
preventing the news of Cedric's engagement from reaching his sisters'
ears. "There is another question I must ask you. Why do you call your
fiancee Miss Jacobi?"

Cedric stared at him.

"I suppose because it is her name," he re